Norway Plans Temporary AI Smart Glasses Ban

Norway’s government has announced plans for a temporary ban on AI-powered smart glasses in selected public places over privacy concerns.

The government said on Monday that the move aims to prevent people from being photographed, filmed or recorded without their knowledge.

The proposed ban could cover parks, beaches, museums, shopping centres and public events. It could also apply to schools, daycare centres, playgrounds and youth clubs. Healthcare facilities and gyms with changing rooms and showers may also be covered.

Digitalisation and Public Administration Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said the government is concerned about hidden recordings.

“We do not want a society where people worry about being recorded without their knowledge, photographed, or filmed in places and situations where they are accustomed to not being monitored,” Micaelsen said.

The government plans to submit a bill to parliament “as soon as possible.” It will also set up an expert group to study wearable technology and recommend permanent national rules.

However, Norway stressed that it is not proposing a total ban on smart glasses. Private use would still be allowed in situations where other people are not at risk of being recorded without consent.

The government is also considering exemptions for vulnerable groups and socially beneficial uses of the technology. The move comes following growing concerns in Europe over camera-equipped smart glasses.

Meta’s smart glasses, including its Ray-Ban and Oakley models, have faced particular scrutiny over privacy and unauthorised recordings.

In France, child welfare group e-Enfance reportedly received about 20 complaints from women who said they were filmed without their consent, mostly using Meta glasses. Some of the videos were later shared on social media, prompting mockery and hateful messages.

The Paris public prosecutor has opened an investigation. Meanwhile, Oslo has already banned camera-equipped glasses in schools, while calls for tighter rules are growing across the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Meta maintains that its smart glasses have a built-in LED light that flashes when photos or videos are being recorded. The company says the light cannot be disabled without making the camera unusable.

Norway’s proposed temporary ban is expected to give authorities time to assess the technology before deciding on permanent regulations.